UM recruits 9-year-old girls hoops phenom Jaden Newman

Newman was invited to take an unofficial visit of the Hurricanes' basketball complex after playing on Orlando Downey Christian's varsity team

Orlando's Jaden Newman, 9, is being recruited by Miami's women… (Courtesy of the Newman family )

June 18, 2014|By Christy Cabrera Chirinos, Sun Sentinel

Her favorite television shows are on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. She's seven years from getting her driver's license and Jaden Newman still has a 10 o'clock bedtime.

But the 9-year-old basketball playing phenom already has something some athletes twice her age can only dream of: recruiting interest from the University of Miami.

Earlier this month, Jaden Newman and her family made an unofficial visit to the UM campus after the Hurricanes began recruiting the 4-foot-7 point guard who, despite her age and small stature, is already a two-year varsity player at Orlando's Downey Christian.

Newman's father, Jamie, said he was initially surprised when Miami assistant coach Darrick Gibbs, who helps coordinate the Hurricanes' recruiting efforts, reached out to his family about the school's interest in the fourth grader. But surprised or not, the family traveled south to tour the school's campus and Newman is hopeful this experience serves as a life lesson for his precocious daughter, who's been playing basketball since she was a toddler.

"I want her to take it as what it is, an experience. Learn from this and see what hard work can do for you," Jamie Newman said. "If you become a basketball player, if you become a dentist, whatever you do in life, if you work hard, you'll be rewarded. The more you put in it, the more you get out of it."

And Newman has been putting plenty into basketball for a while.

Her father says she's been playing alongside older boys since she was 3 years old. That helped her develop into one of the strongest ball handlers on her high school team, even at her young age.

One of the boys she's played with is her older brother, 12-year-old Julian, who has made a name for himself as a basketball prodigy as well. He's been playing on Downey Christian's varsity team since his elementary school days too and has earned attention from the likes of the New York Times, ESPN and People magazine.

Now, it's Jaden's turn in the spotlight after Miami began recruiting her. Jamie Newman says the school contacted him after seeing some of his daughter's highlight tapes online. Though some might question a university recruiting someone as young as Jaden Newman, several high school and youth coaches see Miami's efforts as a plus.

Not only could it benefit the school if Newman plays there and turns out to be the college player they hope she will be, but they say it's a boost for girls and women's basketball in general.

"I know [Miami's] staff really well. They're a national program in the ACC, one of the top conferences in the country for women's hoops. They need to be recruiting now and looking ahead if they want to stay on top of the game," said Nova High coach Jason Hively, who has worked with both travel and high school players for 14 years. "They could have done it as a nice gesture for the young lady. It might help her confidence. There are people in the women's game like [Miami coach] Katie Meier and coach Gibbs that want to try and promote women's basketball. This is a great way to promote it and say, 'We're watching the kids. We're doing our jobs.' I think it's great."

Added Dillard High coach Marcia Pinder, a Hall of Fame coach who has led the Panthers to seven state championships, "I'm anxious to see her play. I respect Miami and I know that she must be a great player if Miami is going after her. … She must be phenomenal. She must be outstanding, because Miami's coaches are very, very good. They're visible, they come to watch the girls practice. They're a dedicated group."

But the Hurricanes, who have made four straight postseason appearances including a first-round loss in this year's WNIT, may have their work cut out for them. Her father says Jaden's favorite player is former Connecticut star Diana Taurasi and Jaden's told him it's her dream to one day play for the national champion Huskies.

At least Miami has plenty of time to try to change her mind. If the Hurricanes can manage that, well, Jamie Newman says he'd be thrilled.

"If she decides to stay in Florida, Miami would be great," he laughed. "For us, this is all truly a blessing, especially with the cost of tuition rising, never mind eight years from now what tuition will be. To see your child excelling in some avenue that will become a scholarship for them, it's something as a parent you wish for your child, that they could get a scholarship in some form be it soccer, basketball or being a straight-A student. It's a blessing."